What:

African American students will speak about what they need to succeed in education at a White House Summit on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

The California Student Aid Commission and the University of California, Davis, are partnering with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans to present the event.

The by-invitation-only event is expected to draw together about 250 students, educators, community leaders, policymakers and others.

When:

Wednesday, April 6, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with reception following

Where:

UC Davis Activities and Recreation Center, Ballroom

Interactive campus map: http://campusmap.ucdavis.edu/?b=203

Visuals:

• Spoken-word performance by students from Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS), a critical literacy program based at UC Davis
• A reception at the new Center for African Diaspora Student Success on campus
• Two large screens displaying tweets during the event

Who: 

Speakers include:

• David J. Johns, executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans;
• Yvette Gullatt, UC vice provost for diversity and engagement;
• Mariah Watson, UC Davis senior and former president of the Associated Students of UC Davis;
• Students leaders from Sacramento State University, Sacramento City College and high schools in Sacramento and Elk Grove;
• Patti Colston, communications manager for the California Student Aid Commission;
• Milton Lang, associate vice chancellor for student life, campus community and retention services at UC Davis; and
• Kayton Carter, director of strategic African American retention initiatives at UC Davis.

Background:

Students from UC Davis, Sacramento State University, Sacramento City College and area high schools will be featured in two panel discussions, the first about feeling safe, engaged and supported on campus, and the second, on retention, financial aid and student support.

David J. Johns, executive director of the White House initiative, will emcee the event and moderate the first discussion and a community forum that will be a call to action.

After the summit, a reception will showcase the new Center for African Diaspora Student Success, the heart of a comprehensive set of new and expanded initiatives to support the recruitment and retention of African American students at UC Davis.

The event will be livestreamed at: http://livestream.com/accounts/11451219/events/4950431

Directions: 

From Interstate 80, take Highway 113 North and exit at the first exit, Hutchison Drive. Turn right or east at Hutchison Drive. At the second stoplight, turn left on to La Rue Road. At the first stoplight, turn right to enter Lot 25, the parking for the Activities and Recreation Center.